In my medical practice, the pillow has been a very common topic of discussion among my patients.
In a day, we all sleep on an average of 7-8 hours. It constitutes one third (1/3 ) of our day, so a pillow should provide adequate relaxation and rest to our neck muscles, so as to avoid a stiff neck in the morning.
It comes down to two common basic questions
1. Should I use a pillow?
Yes, of course, we should use a pillow
2. Which is an Ideal pillow?
The basic idea is to keep your neck straight
▪If you sleep on your back, then it should be a smaller one ( 1- 1¹/² inch)
▪ If you sleep on your sides, then use a bigger one (5 – 6 inches: distance from the side of the neck to the tip of the shoulder)
3. What should be the material in my pillow?
We can always use a cotton pillow or a foam pillow, but make sure the pillow is firm (neither too hard or neither too soft so as to avoid the head to sink in the pillow).
Sleep is a vital part of our daily biological routine, and a good night’s sleep can make a very happy good morning.
About the Author: Dr. K S Mane, D Ortho, M.S Ortho, Fellow in Spine Surgery, Consultant Spine Surgeon
A spine specialist, a health professional who focuses mainly on treating spine conditions. skilled as a spine surgeon, with 12 years of working experience in hospitals and clinics. a
He can be reached on consult@drkirtimane.com
